Staff Perspective: Debunking Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in Service Members - What People Still Get Wrong
Deployment Anxiety and the Fear of PTSD
Therapist: Hello, Sgt. Smith. What brings you in today?
SM: Hey Doc. I just got orders to deploy. I was excited at first—this is what I signed up for, right? But then my wife and parents started telling me I’m going to come back with PTSD, and now I’m kind of freaking out. Is it true that if something bad happens to me, I’ll get PTSD?
Therapist: It’s totally normal to feel both excited and anxious about your first deployment. That’s your brain preparing for the unknown—especially when it involves risk, even if actual harm isn’t likely.
But let’s unpack this PTSD idea. First, PTSD—or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder—is part of a group called Trauma and Stressor-Related Disorders (APA, 2022). That means you only develop PTSD if you’re exposed to trauma—but even then, it’s not guaranteed.
Myth #1: "If I experience trauma, I’ll definitely get PTSD."
SM: So, as long as nothing bad happens to me, I won’t get it? Seems straightforward.
Therapist: Not exactly. Trauma exposure includes more than just being hurt yourself. It can involve:
- Directly experiencing the traumatic event.
- Witnessing it happen to someone else.
- Learning that it happened to a close family member or friend.
- Repeated exposure to distressing details, like what some first responders experience.
SM: So... I am likely to experience something like that. Sounds like I’m doomed to get PTSD after all.
Therapist: Not necessarily. In fact, most people who experience trauma don’t develop PTSD. According to the World Health Organization (2024), about 70% of people worldwide experience trauma in their lives, but only about 5–6% ever develop PTSD. Among Veterans, that number is only slightly higher—around 7% (Goldstein, et.al., 2016).
Myth #2: "If I get PTSD, that means I’m weak."
SM: Wait... so most people don’t get PTSD, even after trauma? Then if I do get it, does that mean I’m weak?
Therapist: Absolutely not. PTSD has nothing to do with strength or weakness. There are many factors that influence whether someone develops PTSD after trauma, including:
- Severity of the trauma
- Ongoing stress or low social support afterward
- Previous trauma history
- Mental health history—either personal or family
- Childhood adversity
None of these factors are about willpower or toughness—they’re risk factors, not character flaws.
Myth #3: "PTSD only comes from combat."
SM: I thought PTSD was only from combat?
Therapist: That’s a very common myth. PTSD can result from any event that involves actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence. This could include:
- War and combat
- Car accidents
- Physical or sexual assault
- Growing up in a violent environment
- Natural disasters
What matters is the nature of the trauma—not where or how it happens.
Myth #4: "If I get PTSD, I’ll become dangerous or unstable."
SM: So if I do get it, does that mean I’ll end up crazy or violent like they show in movies?
Therapist: Not at all. That’s Hollywood fiction. PTSD doesn’t look the same for everyone. Think of it like a cold—two people can have the same illness but different symptoms.
Let me break it down simply: PTSD is diagnosed using specific criteria. To be diagnosed, a person must meet all of the following (and not due to drugs, alcohol, or a medical condition):
✅ Diagnostic Criteria for PTSD:
Exposure to trauma (Criterion A):
Direct experience, witnessing, learning about trauma to a loved one, or repeated exposure to traumatic details.
At least one intrusion symptom (Criterion B):
- Unwanted memories or nightmares
- Flashbacks
- Intense distress or physical reactions to triggers
At least one avoidance symptom (Criterion C):
- Avoiding reminders, thoughts, or feelings related to the trauma
At least two negative changes in thoughts/mood (Criterion D):
- Negative beliefs about self or world
- Persistent guilt or blame
- Emotional numbness or detachment
- Loss of interest in things once enjoyed
At least two arousal and reactivity symptoms (Criterion E):
- Irritability or angry outbursts
- Reckless behavior
- Hypervigilance
- Trouble sleeping or concentrating
Duration, impairment, and exclusion:
- Symptoms last more than a month
- They interfere with work, relationships, or daily life
- They aren’t caused by substances or other illnesses
SM: Wow... okay. So PTSD isn’t just one thing—it can show up in a bunch of different ways?
Therapist: Exactly. It’s more than flashbacks or nightmares. And it’s highly individual.
Wrapping Up
SM: Okay, let me see if I’ve got this: Once I deploy, I might be exposed to trauma. If I am, there are a bunch of factors that influence whether I get PTSD. And if I do, it could look very different from someone else’s experience—but it doesn’t mean I’m broken or weak?
Therapist: You nailed it.
SM: Thanks, Doc. I’m still nervous, but I feel a lot better knowing that what I’m feeling is normal—and that PTSD isn’t a guarantee, or a life sentence.
Final Thoughts
PTSD is real, and it’s serious—but it’s also treatable, and it’s not the whole story of military service. Most people exposed to trauma don’t develop PTSD, and those who do are not weak, dangerous, or alone. If you or someone you know is struggling, reach out—there’s support available, and healing is absolutely possible.
Resources for Service Members & Veterans:
Veterans Crisis Line — Call 988, then press 1
The opinions in CDP Staff Perspective blogs are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Science or the Department of Defense.
Adria Williams, Ph.D., is a Military Behavioral Health Psychologist at the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP) with the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. Dr. Williams is a suicide prevention subject matter expert and trainer.
References
Goldstein, R. B., Smith, S. M., Chou, S. P., Saha, T. D., Jung, J., Zhang, H., Pickering, R. P., Ruan, W. J.,
Huang, B. & Grant, B. F. (2016). The epidemiology of DSM-5 posttraumatic stress disorder in the
United States: Results from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related
Conditions-III. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 51(8),1137-1148.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-016-1208-5
American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Trauma- and Stressor- related disorders. In Diagnostic and
statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed., text rev.).
https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425787.x07_Trauma_and_Stressor_Related_Disorders
World Health Organization. (2024, May 27). Post-traumatic stress disorder.
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/post-traumatic-stress-disorder
Deployment Anxiety and the Fear of PTSD
Therapist: Hello, Sgt. Smith. What brings you in today?
SM: Hey Doc. I just got orders to deploy. I was excited at first—this is what I signed up for, right? But then my wife and parents started telling me I’m going to come back with PTSD, and now I’m kind of freaking out. Is it true that if something bad happens to me, I’ll get PTSD?
Therapist: It’s totally normal to feel both excited and anxious about your first deployment. That’s your brain preparing for the unknown—especially when it involves risk, even if actual harm isn’t likely.
But let’s unpack this PTSD idea. First, PTSD—or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder—is part of a group called Trauma and Stressor-Related Disorders (APA, 2022). That means you only develop PTSD if you’re exposed to trauma—but even then, it’s not guaranteed.
Myth #1: "If I experience trauma, I’ll definitely get PTSD."
SM: So, as long as nothing bad happens to me, I won’t get it? Seems straightforward.
Therapist: Not exactly. Trauma exposure includes more than just being hurt yourself. It can involve:
- Directly experiencing the traumatic event.
- Witnessing it happen to someone else.
- Learning that it happened to a close family member or friend.
- Repeated exposure to distressing details, like what some first responders experience.
SM: So... I am likely to experience something like that. Sounds like I’m doomed to get PTSD after all.
Therapist: Not necessarily. In fact, most people who experience trauma don’t develop PTSD. According to the World Health Organization (2024), about 70% of people worldwide experience trauma in their lives, but only about 5–6% ever develop PTSD. Among Veterans, that number is only slightly higher—around 7% (Goldstein, et.al., 2016).
Myth #2: "If I get PTSD, that means I’m weak."
SM: Wait... so most people don’t get PTSD, even after trauma? Then if I do get it, does that mean I’m weak?
Therapist: Absolutely not. PTSD has nothing to do with strength or weakness. There are many factors that influence whether someone develops PTSD after trauma, including:
- Severity of the trauma
- Ongoing stress or low social support afterward
- Previous trauma history
- Mental health history—either personal or family
- Childhood adversity
None of these factors are about willpower or toughness—they’re risk factors, not character flaws.
Myth #3: "PTSD only comes from combat."
SM: I thought PTSD was only from combat?
Therapist: That’s a very common myth. PTSD can result from any event that involves actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence. This could include:
- War and combat
- Car accidents
- Physical or sexual assault
- Growing up in a violent environment
- Natural disasters
What matters is the nature of the trauma—not where or how it happens.
Myth #4: "If I get PTSD, I’ll become dangerous or unstable."
SM: So if I do get it, does that mean I’ll end up crazy or violent like they show in movies?
Therapist: Not at all. That’s Hollywood fiction. PTSD doesn’t look the same for everyone. Think of it like a cold—two people can have the same illness but different symptoms.
Let me break it down simply: PTSD is diagnosed using specific criteria. To be diagnosed, a person must meet all of the following (and not due to drugs, alcohol, or a medical condition):
✅ Diagnostic Criteria for PTSD:
Exposure to trauma (Criterion A):
Direct experience, witnessing, learning about trauma to a loved one, or repeated exposure to traumatic details.
At least one intrusion symptom (Criterion B):
- Unwanted memories or nightmares
- Flashbacks
- Intense distress or physical reactions to triggers
At least one avoidance symptom (Criterion C):
- Avoiding reminders, thoughts, or feelings related to the trauma
At least two negative changes in thoughts/mood (Criterion D):
- Negative beliefs about self or world
- Persistent guilt or blame
- Emotional numbness or detachment
- Loss of interest in things once enjoyed
At least two arousal and reactivity symptoms (Criterion E):
- Irritability or angry outbursts
- Reckless behavior
- Hypervigilance
- Trouble sleeping or concentrating
Duration, impairment, and exclusion:
- Symptoms last more than a month
- They interfere with work, relationships, or daily life
- They aren’t caused by substances or other illnesses
SM: Wow... okay. So PTSD isn’t just one thing—it can show up in a bunch of different ways?
Therapist: Exactly. It’s more than flashbacks or nightmares. And it’s highly individual.
Wrapping Up
SM: Okay, let me see if I’ve got this: Once I deploy, I might be exposed to trauma. If I am, there are a bunch of factors that influence whether I get PTSD. And if I do, it could look very different from someone else’s experience—but it doesn’t mean I’m broken or weak?
Therapist: You nailed it.
SM: Thanks, Doc. I’m still nervous, but I feel a lot better knowing that what I’m feeling is normal—and that PTSD isn’t a guarantee, or a life sentence.
Final Thoughts
PTSD is real, and it’s serious—but it’s also treatable, and it’s not the whole story of military service. Most people exposed to trauma don’t develop PTSD, and those who do are not weak, dangerous, or alone. If you or someone you know is struggling, reach out—there’s support available, and healing is absolutely possible.
Resources for Service Members & Veterans:
Veterans Crisis Line — Call 988, then press 1
The opinions in CDP Staff Perspective blogs are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Science or the Department of Defense.
Adria Williams, Ph.D., is a Military Behavioral Health Psychologist at the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP) with the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. Dr. Williams is a suicide prevention subject matter expert and trainer.
References
Goldstein, R. B., Smith, S. M., Chou, S. P., Saha, T. D., Jung, J., Zhang, H., Pickering, R. P., Ruan, W. J.,
Huang, B. & Grant, B. F. (2016). The epidemiology of DSM-5 posttraumatic stress disorder in the
United States: Results from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related
Conditions-III. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 51(8),1137-1148.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-016-1208-5
American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Trauma- and Stressor- related disorders. In Diagnostic and
statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed., text rev.).
https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425787.x07_Trauma_and_Stressor_Related_Disorders
World Health Organization. (2024, May 27). Post-traumatic stress disorder.
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/post-traumatic-stress-disorder